With the recent release of Nintendo’s next generation Wii U system, it’s interesting to see how we all got here, and how Microsoft and Sony were just a handshake away from thwarting Nintendo all the way back in 2001!

I’m a video game fan, who enjoys all games, whether it’s on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo, PC or iOS games. So, reading this interesting article by computerandvideogames.com surprised me when I found out the Wii boom could have never happened! And if the Wii craze had never happened, then maybe Nintendo would have went the way of Sega, and not even be here today!

So the story (worth reading all three pages) goes that an inventor named Tom Quinn got a worldwide patent on gyrometer-based motion control technology (the heart of the Wii remotes). And in 2001, he decided to pitch his idea to Microsoft, who rudely turned him down:

The attitude I got from them was that if they wanted to do motion control, they would do it themselves and make a better job of it. I mean, they were just rude. In fact, the meeting went so terribly that one of the executives came over to me afterwards and apologised on behalf of others…

Next he went to Sony and pitched again. Ken Kutaragi (the father of the Playstation), also turned him down, after inquiring Quinn if his tech can be produced for 50 cents per unit. He told him obviously no.

So finally, Quinn went to Nintendo, and for a moment, he thought that he was going to be shut out again. But after a heated debate, Nintendo jumped in, and the rest is history.

Two missed opportunities that would have effectively blocked Nintendo from making the Wii, which later in 2006 would start an unprecedented global craze!

Finally! Some AAA games on the PS3 that I’ve been waiting for the price to come down. At Wal-mart Canada, for CAD$14.83 each, you can get Heavy Rain, Gran Turismo 5, Uncharted 2 (GoTY edition), God Of War 3, Infamous 1, Modnation Racer, Killzone 3, Little Big Planet 1 (GoTY edition).

I finally bought Heavy Rain and GT5 after all this time. I’m so excited to play both, as they were both highly touted games. Heavy Rain‘s Metacritic score is 87%, while Gran Turismo 5 is 84%.

FYI, each Wal-mart will have different stock. I went to the huge bargain bin that had the price sign “$15 and up” and it took me 10 minutes to find the games that I wanted, so YMMV (your mileage may vary).

HURRY! This sale for AAA title Resistance 3 for PS3 for $19.99 is $30 off regular price and sale ends on April 19, 2012!! As of time of printing, there’s still stock online at Futureshop.ca and local pick-up is available through the website.

IGN gives it a 9.0 / 10 and GameTrailers gives it a solid 88/100 score.

This is the making of the breathlessly beautiful video of “KARA“, a PS3 tech demo / mini sci-fi film, that I blogged about here (make sure you watch this first before you watch the video below). You will be shocked at the uncanny resemblance of the artificially created Kara versus the actress Valorie Curry! Hurry! And watch this:

So do you think Quantic Dream will develop this into a game? After all, they did create the critically acclaimed “Heavy Rain” game on the PS3. What do you think?

The team that brought you “Heavy Rain” to the PS3, Quantic Dream, released this absolutely JAW-DROPPING tech demo on 03/08/2012 at the 2012 Game Developers Conference. It’s actually a 7- minute mini sci-fi movie. You will be amazed! (tip: switch to 720p HD and full screen!)

The voice actress and character model is Valorie Curry (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2).

Finally!! I have been waiting for this game, LA Noire, a AAA title, to come down in price! Futureshop (Canada) has a Used Games Wednesdays sale, and for one day only on Wednesday March 21, 2012 at CDN$9.99 for a USED copy, I am definitely going to be picking this up! (currently being sold at CDN$20.89 for Xbox360, and CDN$29.83 for PS3) $10 is a great price for this fantastic game.